ASSHKHME Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Awkwardness

The atmosphere between Chen Zhuo and Xie Yu had been strange lately.

They used to bicker and even get physical, but now Chen Zhuo completely treated Xie Yu like air, ignoring him, holding a grudge for Xie Yu saying his liking men was a disease.

And Xie Yu was also very irritable, he felt that his life was being disrupted by Chen Zhuo.

Having a gay man living in the dormitory was really affecting him a lot!

Specifically, it manifested in Xie Yu wearing a pair of large shorts over his underwear when he went to bed at night!

Xie Yu felt awkward, very awkward!

Ever since learning about Chen Zhuo’s sexual orientation, all his doubts suddenly had a directional answer.

The bottles and jars in the bathroom, the skincare products on the table, even the citrus scent on his body, his delicate white skin, and even the curve of his hair, all seemed so glaring and unnatural in Xie Yu’s eyes.

He always subconsciously observed Chen Zhuo, spying on everything that was different from most nineteen-year-old boys.

For example, Chen Zhuo would carefully match the clothes he was going to wear the next day and place them at the end of his bed every night before going to bed.

For example, Chen Zhuo would occasionally spray a little perfume on his wrists or neck.

For example, Chen Zhuo had a pierced left ear, usually plugged with a small transparent plastic stick, and he had a delicate wooden box containing earrings, rings, and other accessories…

If other male classmates dressed up, Xie Yu would think they were vain and loved to show off, but only Chen Zhuo, some subtle actions were magnified infinitely in his eyes, and finally labeled as homosexual.

Why did Chen Zhuo always smell so good? Because he was gay.

Why was Chen Zhuo’s skin so white? Because he was gay.

Why were Chen Zhuo’s legs so long and straight? Because he was gay.

Why was Chen Zhuo so good-looking? Because he was gay.

…

Chen Zhuo was gay.

These six words rampaged in Xie Yu’s mind, and even after two weeks, the power did not diminish but increased.

In a professional class, Xie Yu leaned back in his chair, twirling a signature pen unconsciously between his index and middle fingers.

His eyes were fixed on the PPT on the projection screen, his ears were filled with the teacher’s impassioned lecture, but not a single word or sentence went into his brain.

He was wondering if Chen Zhuo was the top or the bottom.

Xie Yu didn’t have an accurate concept of homosexuality.

In his memory, there used to be a shy boy in his class who was teased by the naughty boys and called a sissy. Xie Yu couldn’t stand it and helped him. Some classmates told him privately that the boy was a pervert who liked men, and told him to stay away so he wouldn’t be tainted.

Xie Yu only felt that this was an excuse for those idiots to bully people, he didn’t think about it carefully, and didn’t take it to heart. Later, the boy thanked him before transferring schools.

The first time he learned about this group was when he accidentally chose the wrong channel while browsing unhealthy websites.

Those two entangled white men caused no small impact on his young mind.

He forgot the specific scene, he only remembered that the one who was enduring, had a small frame, and looked like he was about to die.

Xie Yu stopped twirling the pen, thinking.

If calculated this way, based on Chen Zhuo’s height and build, and his annoying and arrogant personality, he should be the top.

But if comparing with me, Chen Zhuo is not as tall as me, nor as strong as me, then he…

No!

No, no, no, this is not right!!

Xie Yu, what nonsense are you thinking! Are you crazy?!

The signature pen in his hand “clanged” and fell to the ground, rolling in a circle.

Xie Yu’s expression was as uncomfortable as if he had eaten a fly, and he rubbed his hair hard.

The classmate next to him was startled by his sudden emotional change and patted him on the shoulder, “What’s wrong, bro? Are you okay?”

Xie Yu covered his drooping head and shook his head without speaking.

—

After half a month of classes, the seven-day National Day holiday arrived.

Zhao Jiashu, whose home was in the neighboring city, went home to accompany his grandfather. Li Ang’s home was in another province, it wasn’t worth going back, so he went out to travel with some classmates who were also studying at Jiangbei University.

Xie Yu didn’t know where he went, maybe he went home.

When Chen Zhuo woke up, it was already eleven o’clock at noon. He was the only one left in the dormitory, quiet and empty. He was also hungry, and felt inexplicably lonely.

It was already October, but the temperature was still holding at thirty degrees. Chen Zhuo slowly climbed out of bed, casually took off his sweaty pajamas and threw them on the chair, and went to brush his teeth.

The phone rang, Chen Zhuo spat out the toothpaste foam, answered while pressing the speakerphone, “Qingyou-ge, what’s up?”

Xu Qingyou’s mellow and gentle voice came: “I’ve been working on a project recently, I’m too busy. You’re on vacation, right? Why don’t you come back?”

Chen Zhuo rinsed his mouth with water.

His feelings for the Xu family were complicated. If Xu’s father hadn’t sent his father to that mountain village, his parents wouldn’t have died in an accident, and he would have been a very happy child.

But the care over the past ten years was not fake. People were emotional animals. Chen Zhuo had resentment and hatred in his heart, but also gratitude.

Especially when facing Xu Qingyou, who was genuinely good to him, Chen Zhuo didn’t know how to refuse Xu Qingyou’s concern and kindness.

“It’s only been a month since school started, and it’s only a seven-day holiday. I’m fine sleeping in the dormitory.”

Xu Qingyou seemed to sigh, “I’m at the north gate of your school. Haven’t eaten yet, have you? Clean up and come over, I’ll take you to eat.”

Chen Zhuo scratched his head, and just as he was about to answer, the dormitory door opened.

Xie Yu came back carrying a takeout meal box. Seeing Chen Zhuo wearing only a pair of small shorts, he frowned and said, “Why aren’t you wearing clothes?”

“Why am I not wearing clothes? Don’t you guys wander around the dormitory in your underwear every day?”

Chen Zhuo’s tone was not good, he was very upset about Xie Yu’s double standards.

Did him being gay mean he wasn’t a man? Did him liking men mean he changed his gender?

Straight men really knew how to find a sense of superiority, sick.

“You!”

Xie Yu was choked by his retort. He heavily placed the meal box on the table, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the tattoo on Chen Zhuo’s chest again.

This time he saw it clearly, it was indeed a date tattooed, July 25th, ten years ago.

Ten years ago? Chen Zhuo was two months older than him, so ten years ago Chen Zhuo was only nine years old.

If it wasn’t a memorial day for his first love, what else could make him tattoo it on his chest?

The male voice coming from the phone on the next table interrupted Xie Yu’s thoughts. It sounded somewhat familiar: “Xiaozhuo? Are you still listening?”

Chen Zhuo noticed Xie Yu’s gaze glued to his tattoo, glared at him, picked up the phone, turned off the speakerphone and put it to his ear: “Okay, Ge, wait for me a while, I’ll change my clothes and go find you, yeah, I’ll hang up now.”

“Is it good looking?” Chen Zhuo put down the phone and asked.

Xie Yu was slightly stunned: “Wh, what’s good looking?”

Chen Zhuo looked at him without blinking, and asked flirtatiously: “My chest, you were looking at it so intently, is it good looking?”

Xie Yu subconsciously followed his words and looked.

Glancing over the sunken collarbone, he looked at the chest covered with thin muscles.

Because his skin was white, the color was light.

A faint pink color.

It was pretty good looking.

No! No, no, no! This is not right!